Electric switch



(No Model.)

S. P. VAN NORT.

BLEGTRIG SWITCH.

No. 461,298. Patented Oct. 13,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STERLING P. VAN NORT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,298, dated October13, 1891.

Application filed November 21, 1890. Serial No. 372,202. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STERLING 1. VAN NORT, of the city of St. Louis, inthe State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention consists of a double-circuit switch. The novel featureswill be set forth in the claims.

The Object of my invention is to provide an apparatus whereby motors,lamps, or other electric loads can be switched from one electric circuitto another without opening or crossing the said circuits or otherwiseinterfering with the proper operation of the circuits or electricapparatus connected therewith. It is possible that the switch withslight modifications may be used for other plirposes than is herespecified, such as throwing a dynamo from one circuit to another, the.

Figure I is a plan view of the switch. Fig. II is a perspective view ofthe handle-socket. Fig. III is a perspective view of one of the combinedstandards and binding-posts. Fig. IV is a detail perspective view of anarc plate. Fig. V is a detail perspective view showing the contactportions of the switch-levers and the arc plate all in contact. Fig. V1is a perspective view of the contact portions of the switch-levers outof contact. Fig. VII is a longitudinal section at VII VII, Fig. I,looking toward the switch-levers.

The necessity which led me to the invention of this switch was the needof an apparatus by which one or more motors or are lamps could be thrownfrom a day to a night circuit, or vice versa, and each circuit beproperly closed when the motors or lamps were withdrawn from it. Theswitch, as it is shown, was designed for use on arc-light orconstant-current circuits.

1 is a base-block to which the attachments are made. This block may beplaced horizontally or in other position. In the description the block 1is assumed to be horizontal.

2 2 and 3 3 are similar levers, of brass or other metal, which swing ontheir respective posts 1 and 5. The posts 4 and levers 2 are in oneelectric circuit 6, and the posts 5 and levers 3 are in another electriccircuit 7, the conducting wires of the circuits being connected to theposts +1 and 5, respectively. The binding-posts are shown at (3 and 7,respectively. The conducting wires or loop 8 running to motors or lampsare connected to the binding-posts 9, which also form standards in whichturn the metal gudgeons 10 11 of the eccentrics 12 and 13. Theeccentrics are of brass or other conducting material, and are connectedin movement by a non-conducting block or shaft 14:.

On one of the gudgeons, as 10, is a collar 15, held in place by a pin orset-screw 16 and carrying a bracket l7,t.o which is secured the woodenor other non-conducting handle or lever 18, by which the eccentrics maybe turned through about one-half a rotation to bring the eccentrics incontact with heels 2 or 3 of the levers 2 or 3. 'lhelevers 2 and 3 aresimilar in construction, so that a description of the pair of levers 2will apply equally to the levers 19 are contacts or contact portions ofthe levers which are stepped together so as to have a rubbing contactand act as stops on each other. As the eccentrics 12 13 act on the heels2 the contacts 19 are drawn apart into the position seen in Fig. 1, sothat the current in circuit (3 which has been short-circuited throughthe contacts 19 of the levers 2 when the contacts were together, isswitched through the eccentrics to the motor or lamp circuit 8.

The levers have projections 20, to which are connected springs 21, thatforce the levers toward each other, making close contact between themand the eccentrics, or bringing them into contact with each other whenthe heels 2 or 3, as the case may be, are relieved from the pressure ofthe eccentrics, the circuits 6 or 7, as the case may be.areshort-circuited through the contacts 19.

22 are insulated springs, one for each pair of levers, the spring beingfixed at one end and carrying at the free end a metal contact or areblock 23, which the contacts 19 touch as they approach each other. Thepurpose of the spring are block is to save the contacts 19 by drawingthe arcs on the back side or other suitable part of the levers away fromthe contacts 19 as they separate a short distance or as they approachnear together. The springs 22, it will be seen, are arranged out of thepath of the current so that they are not subjected to the deterioratinginfluence of the latter.

The operation of the switch is as follows: Suppose the eccentrics 12 and13 to be in a central position and out of contact with either of theheels 2 3, both pairs of levers 2 and 3- will be in the position shownat 3 in Fig. I, and the circuits 6 and 7 will be short-circnited throughthe levers. If we wish to throw the load which is connected to thebinding-posts 9 into either circuit, the handle 18 is thrown toward thatside, in so doing the eccentrics 12a11d13 on either end of theinsulating block or shaft 14 coming in contact with the heels 2 or 3, asthe case maybe, and forcing them back and opening the contacts 19,causing the current to flow through the eccentrics 1.2 and 13, thencethrough the binding-posts 9 to motors or lamps. As the contacts 19separate the spring 22 keeps the block in contact with the levers forashort distance, and after the levers separate from each other theelectric arcs are formed at a distance from the contacts 19 and againstthe arc plate, thus saving the contacts which would otherwise be burnedby the arc and the smooth parts destroyed. \Vhen the contacts 19 cometotogether again in closing the circuits, any are which may be formedwill be between the block 23 and the adjacent parts of the levers, asbefore, all sparking or arcs being drawn to the springblock' (which iseasily and cheaply renewed,) the contacts 19 being preserved frominjury.

If it is desired to switch the load from circuit 9 to circuit 7, thehandle 18 is thrown to the light, in which the operation of the switchis as follows: \Vhen the handle 18 moves toward a central position,thelevers 2 approach each other, striking the block23 and forcing it backuntil the ends 19 of the levers come together, forming a short circuit(3 and cut ting out the load 8 before the eccentrics 12 13 breakconnection between the load and circuit 6. Further motion of the handlein the same direction separates the eccentrics 12 13 from the heels 2,and circuit 6 before the eccentrics come in contact with the heels 3" ofthe levers 3 and circuit 7, thus preventing a cross in the circuits.Further motion of the lever 18 forces the contacts 19 of the levers 3asunder, and introduces the load into the circuit 7 through thebinding-posts 9, eccentrics 12 13, heels 3, and binding-posts 7.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of an electric conductorconnected with a lamp or other load and with ends 8 in connection withtwo revoluble metal eccentrics on the same shaft insulated from eachother, two levers in an electric circuit having contacts 19 at theirfree ends, and parts 2, adapted to receive the impact of the eccentrics,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of two metal eccentrics upon the same shaft insulatedfrom each other and connected, respectively, to the ends of aconducting-wire connected with a lamp, motor, or other load, and twopairs of levers in two separate electric circuits, respectively, andhaving contacts 19 at the free ends, and parts 2 and 3, adapted toreceive the impact of the eccentrics, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in an electric switch, of the two pairs ofcircuit-breakinglevers 2 and 3, with contacts 19 at their free ends, thetwo electric circuits 6 and 7, connected, passing through the levers andcontacts, and conducting-eccentrics insulated from each other andconnected with the opposite ends of the loadwire 8 and adapted forcontact with and action on the pairs of levers 2 and 3, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electric switclnthe combination of two separable contact-leversin an electric circuit, an arc block, and a spring on which said blockis mounted, said spring being located out of the path of the electriccircuit and arranged to draw an arc on each lever, substantially as setforth.

STERLING l. V AN NORT.

In presence of- E. S. KNIGHT, Tnos. KNfeI-rr.

